Written Answers Tuesday 28 April 2009

Architecture and Design Scotland

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy and financial management review of Architecture and Design Scotland has reached an outcome and, if so, what the key findings of the review are.

Michael Russell: The review of Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) is now complete and the outcomes and recommendations of the review have been received in report format and are as follows:

  1. There is a clear role for a national body such as A+DS in promoting good quality design; both the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment (CABE) in England and the Design Commission for Wales (DCfW) are seen as successful bodies and A+DS can build on its strengths to perform the same role in Scotland.

  2. Going forward, A+DS needs to focus on a limited number of key priorities – ensuring better focus on its role, acknowledging the limits of resources available and targeting them accordingly. Those priorities must be aligned with government’s purpose of sustainable economic growth, and recognise the importance of supporting the aims of planning reform – to deliver and be seen to deliver better outcomes more efficiently.

  3. This will require a change in governance structure and arrangements of the functions the organisation carries out to meet its objectives. The choice of functions should follow from their potential contribution to achieving the organisation’s key priorities. In particular, if design review is to continue, it should be re-engineered to better deliver the key priorities.

  4. There needs to be a clearer understanding of the organisation’s relationship with government and the boundaries of its relationship with other built environment organisations.

  A copy of the A+DS Policy and Financial Management Review is available in Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47928).

Asylum Seekers

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with local authorities since 17 May 2007 in respect of supporting asylum seekers in Scotland, broken down by date, local authority and minister involved.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has regular meetings with officials from City of Glasgow Council to discuss the support available to asylum seekers as this is where the majority of asylum seekers live. In addition, officials regularly attend the COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership Board meetings. Ministers have not attended any of the meetings during the period in question.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether children of primary and secondary school age in hospital can access education.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy on children in hospital maintaining their education.

Adam Ingram: Education authorities have a duty under section 40 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 in relation to pupils unable to attend a suitable educational establishment as a result of their prolonged ill-health. In such circumstances, an education authority must make special arrangements for pupils to receive education elsewhere, other than at an educational establishment. This would include those children and young people in hospital.

  The Scottish Government provided guidance to education authorities on this issue in 2001 through the publication Guidance On Education of Children Absent From School Through Ill Health available from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2001/12/10473/File-1.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost of the amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has estimated the total cost of all of the amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill to range between £10,539,161 and £32,029,744.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the estimated cost of Scottish Government amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Adam Ingram: Only Scottish Government amendments 1 to 4 have been identified as having any financial implications. The total estimated cost of these amendments is £9,000.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22032 by John Swinney on 27 March 2009, what the energy performance certificate grade was of each of the six buildings referred to.

John Swinney: Legislation on the energy performance of buildings was introduced under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 as a result of an EU Directive. This legislation came into force for existing buildings on 4 January 2009. I refer the member to my answer S3W-22032 that notes no new leasing arrangements or renewals were entered into by Core Scottish Executive over 2007 and 2008. Energy performance certificates are therefore not required.

  The Scottish Government, however, recognises its leadership role for the wider public sector and we will be working to produce Energy Performance Certificates for the main buildings on our core estate during 2009. This approach will mean that the Scottish Government has gone beyond the minimum statutory requirements, underlying its commitment to leading by example.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22033 by John Swinney on 27 March 2009, what the energy performance certificate grade was of each of the 78 buildings referred to.

John Swinney: Legislation on the energy performance of buildings was introduced under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 as a result of an EU Directive. This legislation came into force for existing buildings on 4 January 2009. Energy performance certificates are therefore not required for buildings subject to new leases or renewal of existing leases prior to that date.

  The Scottish Government, however, recognises its leadership role for the wider public sector and we will be working to produce EPCs for the main buildings on our core estate during 2009. This approach will mean that the Scottish Government has gone beyond the minimum statutory requirements, underlying its commitment to leading by example.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce details of the selection of areas for the energy efficiency programme agreed in the 2009 budget.

Alex Neil: During his budget speech on 4 February 2009, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced proposals for the first stage of an ambitious area based Home Insulation Scheme supported by £15 million of new government funding in 2009-10 plus £15 million from other sources. Since then, the Scottish Government has been working with stakeholders, including COSLA, to finalise details of the scheme and announcements will follow in due course.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the qualifying criteria for the energy efficiency programme agreed in the 2009 budget.

Alex Neil: During his Budget speech on 4 February 2009, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced proposals for the first stage of an ambitious area based Home Insulation Scheme supported by £15 million of new government funding in 2009-10 plus £15 million from other sources. Since then, the Scottish Government has been working with stakeholders, including COSLA, to finalise details of the scheme and announcements will follow in due course.

Health

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided for exercise referral schemes in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: Between 1999 and present day the government have supported two exercise referral scheme pilots: NHS Highland received funding from the Government of £216,000 from 2004 to 2006 to appoint three full-time Active Referral Co-ordinators and Greater Glasgow were provided with £182,000 from 2004 to 2008 to improve evaluation and participation amongst key groups e.g. those living in deprived areas.

  We are developing a long-term strategic framework for the promotion of physical activity in primary care which will include exercise on referral. This is being taken forward in three phases. Firstly, the preparation of guidance designed to raise awareness of physical activity with health professionals working in primary care. Further phases include development of measurement and screening tools, and identifying effective interventions. This will draw on evaluations of other primary care initiatives where exercise on referral has been practised such as, for example, Keep Well and Have a Heart Paisley as well as other pilot programmes.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have expressed an interest in using the housing renewal areas regulations since guidance was issued.

Alex Neil: The powers to designate housing renewal areas (HRAs) under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 were commenced on 1 April 2009. Supporting advisory guidance was issued in early March.

  We are not aware of any local authority that has taken formal steps to use the new powers. An authority is not obliged to notify Scottish ministers until after local consultation on a proposed HRA designation. However, all local authorities have a new duty under the 2006 act to set out in their local housing strategy their policy for identifying parts of their area for designation as an HRA.

Immigration

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22428 by Michael Russell on 3 April 2009, which organisations will be entitled to bid for funds from the £2.973 million in Barnett consequentials resulting from the creation of the Migration Impacts Fund in England.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22428 by Michael Russell on 3 April 2009, when guidance will be available on how organisations can apply for funds from the £2.973 million in Barnett consequentials resulting from the creation of the Migration Impacts Fund in England.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22428 by Michael Russell on 3 April 2009, whether guidance on the criteria for applying for funds from the £2.973 million in Barnett consequentials resulting from the creation of the Migration Impacts Fund in England will cover areas such as English as a second language provision, the private rented sector and health and social care.

Michael Russell: The Barnett consequential will be added to the Scottish Block, and Scottish ministers will decide in due course how these additional funds should be spent. There are therefore no current plans for a bidding process.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent media reports, whether it is concerned that some local authorities are reported to have approached the Scottish Courts Service to ask for community service orders to be revoked due to a backlog and an inability to meet demand.

Kenny MacAskill: We are not aware of any approaches to the Scottish Court Service for revocation of orders for the reasons suggested. Local authorities can, however, apply in individual cases to courts for an extension beyond the 12 months period set out in existing legislation for completion of community service orders.

Local Government Finance

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spends on (a) wages and salaries and (b) external contractors, expressed (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a proportion of the total local authority expenditure.

John Swinney: The information on wages and salaries for 2007-08 is in the following table. Local authorities’ expenditure on external contractors is not held centrally.

  Local Authorities’ Employee Costs 2007-08

  

 
Employee Costs (£000)
 Employee costs as a % of gross expenditure


 Scotland
 6,846,523
 43.9%


 Aberdeen City
 266,945
 45.1%


 Aberdeenshire
 288,288
 47.3%


 Angus
 133,701
 44.2%


 Argyll and Bute
 122,426
 39.8%


 Clackmannanshire
 64,062
 44.6%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 168,922
 39.6%


 Dundee City
 234,429
 49.4%


 East Ayrshire
 164,975
 48.6%


 East Dunbartonshire
 127,468
 47.9%


 East Lothian
 110,423
 44.4%


 East Renfrewshire
 120,681
 49.2%


 Edinburgh, City of
 563,474
 41.2%


 Eilean Siar
 63,383
 45.8%


 Falkirk
 193,749
 46.9%


 Fife
 471,181
 48.1%


 Glasgow City
 809,287
 33.1%


 Highland
 330,943
 47.9%


 Inverclyde
 128,187
 45.5%


 Midlothian
 108,481
 47.4%


 Moray
 111,813
 46.6%


 North Ayrshire
 173,106
 43.1%


 North Lanarkshire
 422,468
 46.6%


 Orkney Islands
 43,294
 43.3%


 Perth and Kinross
 165,855
 45.7%


 Renfrewshire
 234,816
 46.6%


 Scottish Borders
 147,336
 47.3%


 Shetland Islands
 80,524
 54.7%


 South Ayrshire
 149,339
 47.6%


 South Lanarkshire
 370,535
 44.6%


 Stirling
 117,594
 47.1%


 West Dunbartonshire
 149,772
 48.7%


 West Lothian
 209,063
 48.7%



  Source: Local Financial Returns 2007-08

  Note:

  1. Police and fire expenditure is apportioned to councils using the amount that the Joint Boards requisition from them.

  2. Expenditure on council tax and non-domestic valuation and registration of electors is apportioned to councils using the amount that the Valuation Joint Boards requisition from them.

  3. Regional Transport Partnerships expenditure is apportioned to councils by population (GROS 2007 mid-year estimates).

  The relatively low percentage of employee costs as a percentage of gross expenditure for Glasgow is due to the creation of a number of Arms Length External Organisations. These were created as part of the council’s on-going programme of service reform. The greatest impact on employee costs has been in relation to the transfers of Building Services and Culture and Related Services.

Older People

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider supporting free gym access for people over 60 with health problems who previously accessed an exercise referral scheme.

Shona Robison: As you will be aware the recommendations for physical activity in adults of all ages are half an hour of moderate activity per day. This can be accumulated throughout the day, and can almost always be achieved without the use of any special equipment, for example, walking, stair climbing or even doing some gardening.

  We are developing a long-term strategic framework for the promotion of physical activity in primary care which will include exercise on referral. This is being taken forward in three phases. Firstly, the preparation of guidance designed to raise awareness of physical activity with health professionals working in primary care. Further phases include development of measurement and screening tools, and identifying effective interventions. This will draw on evaluations of other primary care initiatives where exercise on referral has been practised such as, for example, Keep Well and Have a Heart Paisley as well as other pilot programmes.

Prison Service

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners in HMP Edinburgh were tested for drugs in each of the last three years, broken down by number of positive tests and substances identified.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Table 1 shows the total number of drug tests carried out within HMP Edinburgh during the last three years. Table 2 illustrates all positive drug tests within HMP Edinburgh over the last three years broken down by drug types.

  Table 1

  

 Year
 Total Drug Tests


 2006
 553


 2007
 403


 2008
 380



  Table 2

  

 Drug Type
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Amphetamines
 3
 6
 8


 Barbiturates
 2
 0
 0


 Barbiturates Positive OPR
 4
 0
 0


 Benzodiazepines
 44
 32
 22


 Benzodiazepines Positive OPR
 5
 0
 0


 Benzodiazepines Prescribed
 2
 0
 0


 Cannabis
 95
 36
 37


 Cannabis Positive OPR
 10
 0
 0


 Cocaine
 5
 3
 3


 LSD
 0
 0
 1


 Methadone
 15
 13
 8


 Methadone Prescribed
 4
 0
 0


 Opiates
 203
 128
 85


 Opiates Positive OPR
 2
 1
 0


 Opiates Prescribed
 1
 1
 1


 Temgesic
 5
 20
 16


 Temgesic Prescribed
 1
 0
 0

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of self-harm by prisoners have (a) been reported and (b) required hospital treatment in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following information is all reported instances of attempted and/or planned self harm as well as actual self harm. It is not possible to disaggregate the information. The SPS does not record whether hospital treatment was required.

  

 Establishment
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Aberdeen
 9
 16
 15
 16
 21


 Addiewell
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Barlinnie
 9
 12
 20
 10
 15


 Castle Huntly
 0
 0
 1
 2
 0


 Cornton Vale
 7
 12
 12
 50
 64


 Dumfries
 9
 3
 5
 7
 10


 Edinburgh
 9
 4
 6
 8
 9


 Glenochil 
 0
 5
 4
 9
 7


 Greenock
 7
 4
 6
 4
 5


 Inverness
 2
 4
 20
 16
 5


 Kilmarnock
 25
 40
 59
 41
 38


 Low Moss
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Noranside
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Open Estate
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Perth
 3
 14
 13
 17
 22


 Peterhead
 1
 0
 4
 14
 4


 Polmont
 4
 11
 7
 8
 12


 Shotts
 3
 4
 3
 2
 0

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of self-harm by young offenders have (a) been reported and (b) required hospital treatment in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following information is all reported instances of attempted and/or planned self harm as well as actual self harm relating to Young Offenders. It is not possible to disaggregate the information. The SPS does not record whether hospital treatment was required."

  

 
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Aberdeen
 0
 1
 1
 0
 4


 Cornton Vale
 0
 0
 2
 10
 21


 Dumfries
 0
 1
 0
 4
 0


 Edinburgh
 0
 0
 0
 3
 2


 Greenock
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2


 Inverness
 0
 0
 3
 1
 0


 Kilmarnock
 0
 1
 0
 8
 4


 Perth
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Polmont
 0
 2
 2
 6
 3

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults by prisoners on prison officers were recorded in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested regarding Prisoner on Staff assaults is available from calendar year 2001 and is detailed in the following table. The data is as of 21 April 2009.

  

 
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009


 Aberdeen
 19
 17
 15
 4
 4
 9
 2
 7
 0


 Addiewell
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 19


 Barlinnie
 20
 24
 29
 21
 17
 23
 26
 29
 4


 Castle Huntly
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Cornton Vale
 9
 10
 8
 11
 16
 20
 27
 36
 20


 Dumfries
 3
 2
 3
 5
 5
 1
 2
 2
 3


 Edinburgh
 7
 27
 19
 26
 30
 19
 11
 12
 2


 Glenochil Prison
 3
 5
 12
 2
 6
 4
 9
 2
 2


 Glenochil YOI
 3
 5
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Greenock
 6
 6
 3
 8
 6
 7
 1
 0
 0


 Inverness
 2
 0
 1
 5
 4
 2
 4
 2
 0


 Kilmarnock
 19
 36
 61
 18
 26
 19
 17
 17
 1


 Low Moss
 1
 0
 2
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Noranside
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Perth
 3
 7
 8
 13
 14
 11
 13
 9
 5


 Peterhead
 0
 5
 3
 3
 3
 2
 2
 3
 0


 Polmont
 11
 23
 26
 29
 26
 15
 13
 6
 2


 Shotts
 6
 17
 13
 11
 9
 9
 2
 11
 1

Procurement

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses have fair access to public sector contracts.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s Economic Recovery Programme states that it will do all it can to help Scottish businesses. The government is committed to ensuring that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have fair access to public sector contracts in Scotland. SMEs make a significant contribution to the delivery of public services in Scotland and to the supply of good and works to the Scottish public sector. They are often ideally placed to provide innovative solutions to public sector requirements and to deliver value for money. The public procurement market place also offers considerable opportunities for SMEs to generate business, either individually or as part of a consortium. Access to public sector contracts can play a key part in supporting a SME’s longer term sustainable growth.

  Our cross-sector Procurement Policy Handbook, published in December 2008, includes guidance on working with suppliers. The Handbook requires that tender costs be kept to a minimum and that barriers to participation by small firms, the self-employed and third sector should be removed. All Scottish public bodies are expected to take the following steps to implement these requirements.

  1. Adopt the "Suppliers’ Charter" – which commits public bodies to improving

  the way they work with businesses.

  2. Use the Public Contracts Scotland advertising portal public bodies should:

  publish their "buyer profile" on the portal – to help suppliers find out quickly and cheaply whether a public body is a potential customer;

  advertise as many contract opportunities as possible and publish contract award notices – to give suppliers free access to contract opportunities across the Scottish public sector, and

  3. Review contract award procedures – to ensure that they place the minimum possible burden on suppliers.

  4. Use outcome based tender specifications wherever possible – to allow businesses to propose innovative and alternative solutions to public sector business needs.

  5. Include in their terms and conditions a requirement that contractors pay any sub-contractors within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice – to ensure that sub-contractors, as well as contractors, receive prompt payment.

  6. Monitor spend with SMEs – use data from the Scottish Procurement Information Hub to monitor spend with SMEs. Monitoring spend by way of a Best Practice Indicator will enable public bodies to demonstrate the success of the other activities.

Public Sector Pay

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce measures to encourage the operation of salary sacrifice schemes for public sector workers.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy encourages a total reward approach to public sector pay, including non-pay rewards such as salary sacrifice schemes.

  Salary sacrifice schemes for other public sector workforce groups in Scotland are a matter for the employers within these groups.

  The Scottish Government is actually encouraging more employers in Scotland - public, private and voluntary sector - to offer their staff childcare vouchers, which are a form of salary sacrifice scheme.

Voluntary Sector

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations have received funding from the Third Sector Enterprise Fund for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 and how much they have received in each case.

John Swinney: The Third Sector Enterprise Fund opened for applications on 30 January 2009, with funding available for draw-down between April 2009 and March 2011. The first approvals from the Third Sector Enterprise Fund are due to be made by the end of April 2009. Details on successful applications will be published when awards have been made and accepted.